Screw-setting instrument.



D. H. HARNLY.

SCREW SETTIN TRUMENT.

APPLICATION FILE s T.8. 19M.

. 1 1553724 Patented Oct. 5,1915.

DAVID r1. HARNLY, or "anemia, ILLINOIS.

SCREW-SETTING INSTRIlMENT.

masses.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented @ct. 5, 1%15'.

Application filed September 8, 1914. Serial No. 860,747:

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, DAVID H. HARNLY, a

citizen of the United States, and resident of Austin, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Screw-Setting Instruments, of which the following is a specification, and which are illustrated in the accompanying thereof.

The'invention relates to implements for driving screws, nails, and the like, into woodwork.

The object of the invention is to provide a tool of this kind which shall not only be of simple and inexpensive construction, but which may be conveniently manipulated and effectively used both for starting screws, nails, or the like, accurately at any point and in any direction, and for completely driving these articles, if desired.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is aside elevation of a screw-setting tool .embodying the features of improvement provided by the invention, and illustrating the manner in which the same may be used; Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 1, but shows the tool in central longitudinal section; and Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tool.

In carrying out the invention 'a' movable plunger 10 is provided. This plunger preferably comprises an elongated shaft or intermediate portion 11, and an enlarged forward end or head, as 12, providing an annular shoulder 13. A knob 14:, or other similar enlargement, is preferably also provided at the rear end of the shaft 11. This knob serves to facilitate the application of pressure to the plunger, as with the hand or by striking the same with a hammer.

A tubular head 15 is slidingly mounted upon the plunger 10, and normally projects beyond the forward end of the same. As shown, the forward end 16 of the tubular head 15 is open, in accordance with. the bore of the tube, while the other end of the tubular head has an inturned annular flange 17 for engagement with the annular shoulder 13. The head 15 preferably also has a lateral opening 18 adjacent its f1 rward end.

A spring 19, coiled aboutthe shaft 11 of the plunger 10 and reacting between the flange 17 of the tubular head 15 and the knob 14,

serves to normally hold the tubular head 15 at the limit of its forward movement upon the plunger.

drawings, forming a part In the use of the tool, the article to be started or driven, as the screw X, is laid into upon the object, as Y, into which the screwis to be inserted. hen forward movement of the'tubular head 15 is arrested by the engagement of the end of the same with the object, the plunger 10 is advanced through the bore of the head and engaged with the head of the screw with as much force as is desired. The lateral opening 18 of the head 15 permits a view of the object through the open end 16 of the head, and thereby enables the operator to accurately position the article at the place where it is to be inserted.

A spring 20 is preferably provided for engaging the screw, as X, within the bore of the tubular head 15. spring is secured against the wall of the tubular head, upon the outside, as by a rivet 21. When constructed in this way the spring 20 extends forwardly from its point of'attachment over the opening 18, and is preferably folded upon itself to provide a projection 22 for engagement by the oper- As shown, this ator for lifting the spring. -The forward 7 end :23 of the spring 20 is then extended obliquely into the bore of the tubular head 15 through the lateral opening 18 for engagement with the screw,'as X, or other article. The inclined position of the for ward end 23 of the spring permits the forward end of the plunger 12 to lift the same by a cam action to disengage the spring from the article, as the screw X, when the plunger is completely advanced.

Usually the shaft 11 of the plunger 10 and the spring 19 will be inclosed within a sleeve, as 24. As shown, this sleeve has one end rigidly secured to the knob 14: and is carried thereby. The other end of the sleeve 24 extendsover the tubular head 15 to the plane of the forward end of the plunger 10. The sleeve 24 accordingly assists in preventing lateral displacement of the tubular head 15. To permit of the forward movement of the sleeve 2% over the tubular head 15 when the plunger 10 is advanced, the sleeve is slotted, as at 25,, in line with the spring 20.

used for driving nails, tacks, equally as well as screws, although its particular use will be for starting screws and driving them in 'foraportion of their length. In each instance the spring 20 i serves to hold the article firmly against the inside wall of the tubular head remote from the opening 18. In this position the point of the article may be viewed through the opening to assist in accurately positioning the same upon the object, as Y. In event the article is to be entered obliquely, the tool may be correspondingly inclined. If the plunger 10 be completely advanced before an attempt. is made to withdraw the tool from the article, as X, the spring will be lifted out of engagement with the article by a cam engagement of the forward end of the plunger with the oblique forward end portion 23 of the spring. The removal of the instrument accordingly has no tendency to withdraw the article from the object.

Preferably the spring 19 will be sufficiently light to enable the operator to easily hold the plunger 10 in contact with the head of the article, as the screw X, with one hand, while the other hand is used for operating a hammer (not shown) upon theknob 14. For entering brads or other light nails in soft wood, however, no hammer will be required. As the spring'20 serves to hold such an'articlefiat against the inside wall of the tubular head 15, these articles are easily entered'accurately at any position and at any angle, and can be driven their full length without bending by merelymanipulating the plunger 10 with the knob 14 firmly held in the hand;

I claim as my invention 1. In a device ofthe kind described, in combination, a plunger having a shaft and an enlarged head adjacent each end of the shaft,

a tube slidably inclosing the enlarged head at the forward end of the plunger and having an inturned annular flange engageable with the said head to limit forward 'rnovement of the tube thereon, a spring coiled about the shaft of the plunger and reacting between the enlarged head at the rear end of the plunger and the said annular flange of the tube, a spring finger acting within the boreof the tube to hold a screw or like article against the wall of the tube in front of the plunger, and a sleeve fixed to the said enlarged head at the rear end of the plungerand extending forwardl therefrom over the said coil spring and .tu' e and slidingly engaging the said tube upon the outside "of the same. I

2. In a device of the kind described, in combination, a tubular head open at one end and having a lateral opening adjacent said end, a plunger sliding within the bore of the head from its other end, and a spring finger having one end secured against the head upon the outside of the same and hav: ing its other end entering the bore of the head obliquely through the said'lateral opening to hold a screw or like article against the inside wall of the head in front of the plunger and to be lifted by a cam engagement of theplunger therewith upon the advance of the plunger, an intermediate part of the spring being folded-upon itself to provide a projecting finger hold for use in lifting the spring.

DAVID H. HARNLY. Witnesses:

CHARLES B. GILLSON, E. M. KLATGHER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for fiire cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of. Patents, Washington, D. G. 

